• 06 Dec 2022

Uttar Pradesh Government Presents Rs 33,700 crore Supplementary Budget

Why In News?

• On December 5, 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government presented a supplementary budget of Rs 33,769 crore for the financial year 2022-23 in the assembly with the aim of urbanization, industrialization and developing religious heritage sites in the state.

Key Points

• On the first day of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature session, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna presented the supplementary budget.
• Out of the corpus of Rs 33,769 crore, Rs 14,000 crore has been allocated for new schemes. A sum of Rs 296.56 crore has been proposed for the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit to be held in February next year.
• With the corpus for the Global Investors Summit in the supplementary budget, the government said it aims to build a $1 trillion economy in the state. For this, a provision of reimbursement of Rs 14.35 crore has been made to the consulting agency appointed to guide the government.
• The state government has earmarked Rs 4,000 crore for infrastructure and overall development of 'New Cities' in this budget.
• Funds will also be allocated for incentives given under the new policies announced for sectors such as tourism, electric vehicles, solar energy, startups and setting up of industrial parks.
• A fund of Rs 300 crore will be allocated to provide financial assistance to investors investing in setting up industrial parks, while Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for incentives related to setting up startups.
• In the supplementary budget, a provision of Rs 899 crore has been made for the Smart City Mission and Rs 2.5 crore for the development of Ayodhya Solar City in line with the government's plan to set up a solar city under the new Solar Policy 2022 .
• In its supplementary budget, the government has allocated Rs 100 crore for subsidy under the newly announced electric vehicle policy, Rs 200 crore for the purchase of 1,000 new buses, Rs 20 crore for developing eco-tourism in the state and Rs 1 crore for developing Kukrail Night Safaris.
• In the budget, a provision of Rs 800 crore has been made to give loans to various industrial development authorities in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, Rs 5,900 crore will be set aside for financing projects and schemes in the power sector.
• Four cities in Uttar Pradesh - Varanasi, Noida, Agra and Lucknow - are scheduled to host the G-20 Leadership Summit next year, for which a provision of Rs 25 crore has been made in the supplementary budget. A provision of Rs 804 crore has been made in the budget for the development of information and communication services.
• A provision of Rs 2337 crore has been made for the construction and ramping of roads in the state. Apart from this, Rs 155 crore will be set aside for the development of roads constructed by the Sugarcane Development Council. As part of the government's efforts to promote sports in rural areas of the state, Rs 15 crore has been set aside for building and developing stadiums and open gyms.
• The supplementary budget also has a provision of Rs 190 crore for agricultural credit subsidy.
• Continuing its effort for spiritual tourism, the government plans to spend Rs 5 crore to develop places around religious attractions like development of roads and facilities at Veda Vigyan Kendra in Naimisharanay.

Bihar’s Dharmendra Singh Broke 21 Bael from his Head in 1 minute, made his 7th World Record

Why In News?

• On December 5, 2022, Dharmendra Singh of Bihar made a world record by breaking 21 unripe Bael from his head in 1 minute in the online competition organized by Netaji World Record Foundation.

Key Points

• Players from 32 countries participated in this online competition organized by Netaji World Record Foundation. In this competition, the Chinese player at number two broke 17 Bael and the Pakistan player at number three broke 15 Bael.
• Dharmendra Singh, who has been awarded the title of Hammer Head Man of India, is a resident of Ramgarh in Kaimur district. He is currently a Tripura state rifles personnel.
• It is worth mentioning that Dharmendra Singh had already set 6 world records, which included competitions like breaking coconut from head, breaking unripe Bael, turning Saria from tooth, turning Saria from head, skipping, turning Saria from back side. Dharmendra Singh's name is also recorded in the Guinness Book.

Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme

Why In News?

• On December 5, 2022, the 'Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme' announced by the state government to promote tourism in rural areas has been implemented. Through the scheme, tourism units showcasing the life, art culture and heritage of villages will be promoted by the state government.

Key Points

• It is known that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced 'Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme' in the state budget to promote tourism in rural areas.
• Through the scheme, tourism units will be established in rural areas to promote local folk art and preserve handicrafts. This will also provide employment opportunities for local people in rural areas.
• Benefits payable to rural tourism units under 'Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme’
  • Stamp duty will be exempted by 100 percent. Initially, 25 percent stamp duty will be payable, reimbursement will be done on submission of certificate of commencement of tourism unit.
  • 100 percent reimbursement of SGST payable and deposited will be done for 10 years.
  • Under the 'Chief Minister Small Industries Promotion Scheme', 9 percent interest subsidy will be given instead of 8 percent on loans up to Rs 25 lakh.
  • Rural tourism units will not require land conversion and building plan approval.
  • Promotion of rural tourism in the area under the Forest Department will be done as per the provisions of the State Eco Tourism Policy, 2021 .
  • Local folk artists and handicraftsmen and rural startups will be given priority in approval and benefits payable.
• Features of 'Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme'
  • Rural Guest Houses: Guest houses will be registered in rural areas, which will have 6-10 rooms. These rooms will be available on rent for tourists to stay. There will also be arrangements for food for tourists in the guest house.
  • Agriculture Tourism Unit: The approved tourism unit on agricultural land will be set up on a minimum of 2,000 square meters and a maximum of 2 hectares. In 90 percent of this, rural environment will be provided to tourists through activities like agriculture and horticulture work, camel farm, horse farm, bird and livestock, crop sowing, handicrafts, gardens etc.
  • Camping site: Camping sites can be set up on a minimum of 1,000 square meters and a maximum of one hectare on agricultural land. Temporary accommodation will be arranged in tents on 10 percent of this. The remaining part will have activities like camel farm, horse farm, livestock, garden etc.
  • Caravan Park: A caravan park can be set up on a minimum of 1,000 square meters and a maximum of 1 hectare on agricultural land. On this, basic facilities for parking of guests' vehicles will be developed.
  • Home Stay (Paying Guest House): The home stay (Paying Guest House) scheme issued earlier by the Tourism Department is also applicable in rural areas. Under this, accommodation facility will be provided to tourists up to 5 rooms in their own accommodation by the housing owner.
• It is noteworthy that under this scheme, the project approval and registration of rural guest house, Agri-tourism unit, camping site, caravan park will be done by the concerned tourist reception center of the tourism department. Along with this, it will be necessary for rural tourism units to have 15 feet wide road.

Rajivika’s MoU with India Post Payment Bank and Fino Payment Bank

Why In News?

• On December 5, 2022, under the mission 'One GP-One BC' project by the Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Development Council (Rajivika), India Post Payment to engage trained and IIBF certified women of self-help groups as BC Sakhi in 17 districts of the state. MoU was signed with Bank and Fino Payment Bank.

Key Points

• Apart from this, on November 25, 2022, an MoU was signed with 'Pay-Near Buy' fintech agency to install BC Sakhi in 8 districts. Thus far, MoU has been signed for setting up BC Sakhi in 25 districts and MoU will be signed with Airtel Payment Bank for the remaining 8 districts very soon.
• Along with this, 4825 BC Sakhi will be installed along with Bank of Baroda, Rajasthan Kshetriya Gramin Bank, Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank, ICICI Bank and IDFC Banks to install 4825 BC Sakhi on State Level Women's Equality Day event on August 25, 2022. MoU has been done for this.
• It is notable that the BC Sakhi set up through various banks are providing free banking services to the residents of rural areas and families of self-help groups in the concerned Gram Panchayat. Due to this they are getting the benefit of doorstep banking facilities. Also, by becoming a good source of income for these BC friends, their empowerment, self-reliance and banking skills are increasing.
• Doorstep banking services mainly include opening of savings account, withdrawal of money, deposit of money as well as other products of banking services like enrolment in insurance and pension schemes along with pension disbursement, DBT money withdrawal facility. Huh.

12 New Cheetahs will soon Come from South Africa in Kuno National Park

Why In News?

• On December 4, 2022, Prakash Sharma, DFO of The National Kuno Sanctuary in Sheopur district, told the media that 12 cheetahs from South Africa are coming to Kuno National Park soon. South Africa's Minister for Forest and Environment Barbara Cressey has approved the MoU with India for Project Cheetah. The document is now with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Key Points

• DFO Prakash Sharma said that 12 leopards have been kept in quarantine in South Africa for the last three and a half months to come to India. These cheetahs can be brought to Sheopur Kuno in India by December 15. Eight new enclosures have also been built for the new cheetahs in the park.
• In July 2022, India had requested South Africa to hand over 12 cheetahs for the Cheetah project. Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were to be brought together and settled in India.
• Preparations for the selection of cheetahs to quarantining them were completed at the same time in Namibia as well as in South Africa, but the MoU to bring cheetahs from South Africa could not be signed, due to which eight cheetahs from Namibia came to India, but 12 cheetahs identified in South Africa remained locked in quarantine enclosures.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released eight cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park in Sheopur on September 17, 2022.

100 Aanchal Cafes will be Opened in the State

Why In News?

• On December 5, 2022, Dairy Development Minister Saurabh Bahuguna inaugurated 'Aanchal Cafe' at MDDA Complex at Ghantaghar in Dehradun and announced the opening of 100 such Aanchal Cafes across the state for marketing and employment of products made from Aanchal milk.

Key Points

• Minister Saurabh Bahuguna said that the department will set up an Aanchal Cafe, which will operate on a commission basis. Priority has been given to the dependents of martyrs, state agitators, differently-abled, women, youth in the allocation of Aanchal Cafe.
• Apart from milk, other milk products including ice cream, yogurt, lassi, shake, ghee, cheese will be available to people at Aanchal Cafe.
• The department minister said that the first cafe of Aanchal has been allotted to Kanchani Devi, wife of martyr Jagdish Prasad. Within two months, 10 more Aanchal Cafes will be set up at important places in Dehradun.
• He said that to promote milk production, the government has decided to give 50 percent subsidy on straw.

International Masters Athletics Championship

Why In News?

• Archana Bisht of Dehradun won gold medal in shotput (javelin throw) at the International Masters Athletics Championship held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 3-4, 2022.

Key Points

• Archana Bisht, working as Assistant Superintendent in ONGC, is the younger sister of senior BJP leader and State Minister Mahila Morcha Vandana Bisht.
• Apart from sports, Archana Bisht also does social work and gives free coaching to economically weak children.
• It is noteworthy that Archana Bisht had earlier participated in Australia in 2016. Archana Bisht is also a Level One Coach of the International Association of Athletic Federations. The children prepared by them had performed better this year while participating in the National Athletics Competition in Guwahati.